Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Sophia Reynolds felt really sorry for Stephanie Adams, so she gave her a hug.

"If the hospital had mixed up the sperm, and this child wasn't that bastard's, that would be great! If only it were some handsome, skilled, and powerful man!"

"Hmph! It would be best if that mistress's child wasn't that scoundrel's either, so he can also taste what it's like to have grass growing on his head."

Stephanie Adams couldn't help but smile and gently touched Sophia Reynolds's soft cheek.

"Although the probability of these events happening is almost zero, I still appreciate your kind words."

Stephanie Adams's mood improved somewhat.

Before returning to Pinecrest Manor, she threw the torn-up report into the trash can.

Seeing that her complexion was not right, Mrs. Higgins asked with concern, "Young Madam, you don't look well. Are you sick?"

In the entire Adams family, there was only one servant who genuinely cared about her.

Stephanie Adams forced a smile. "Mrs. Higgins, I'm fine, I'm just a little hungry. Is there anything to eat?"

No wonder she had not been feeling full lately; there was a little life growing inside her.

What will Stephanie Adams's child be like?

Thinking about the child’s father, Stephanie Adams could not help feeling a little sad.

Mrs. Higgins: "Yes, yes. I’ve made some bird’s nest porridge. I’ll bring you a bowl."

Stephanie Adams had just sat down at the dining table when she suddenly thought of something.

"Who is this bird's nest porridge for?"

Mrs. Higgins paused for a moment, "It's for the second young mistress. The eldest young master said that the second young mistress is in poor health and needs to be properly nourished, so he specially called to ask me to stew it, saying that he would come back to pick it up later."

Of course.

"I specially stewed extra, just so I could save some for you, young mistress."

Stephanie Adams suddenly lost her appetite. "Never mind, I'm not very hungry anymore."

Mrs. Higgins was a smart woman. "Young Madam, let me make you a bowl of hand-pulled noodles. Back in my hometown, I was the best at making hand-pulled noodles in the whole village."

Stephanie Adams knew Mrs. Higgins's good intentions and couldn't bear to disappoint her.

"Okay, then I'll try it."

As Mrs. Higgins busied herself skillfully in the kitchen, Stephanie Adams watched, inexplicably feeling a rare moment of relaxation.

Her phone suddenly rang, and when she saw the caller ID, her mood immediately darkened.

Stephanie Adams reluctantly pressed the answer button.

Diana Scott's commanding voice came through.

"Come back this afternoon, your dad needs to talk to you."

Stephanie Adams seemed a little absent-minded. "I have something to do this afternoon."

It wasn’t that she had anything urgent to do; she simply did not want to go back.

Her family wasn't much better off than the Adams family.

Diana Scott was clearly very unhappy.

"Put aside whatever else is important, you have to come back today."

Stephanie Adams leaned back lazily in her chair.

"I told you, I have something to do."

She had endured this for twenty-eight years; surely, even a workhorse deserved a day of rest.

Diana Scott probably didn't expect her usually submissive daughter to be so decisive, and she was stunned for a few seconds.

"I raised you with all my hard work, just to make me angry? If I had known it would turn out like this, I would have preferred to let you wander outside and freeze or starve to death!"

Stephanie Adams gently stroked her belly twice and said slowly, "If I really die, what will happen to you since you're destined to have no children?"

Stephanie Adams is not Diana Scott's biological daughter.

Stephanie was merely an orphan Diana had brought home from outside.

David Scott and Diana Scott had been married for many years but had no children. They had tried all sorts of methods, but to no avail.

When Diana Scott was almost thirty, she finally became pregnant, but the baby died in the womb.

Diana Scott was a believer in metaphysics, so she had her fortune told.

The fortune teller told her that she should first adopt a girl whose birth date and time matched the requirements, and this girl would bring true offspring to the Scott family.

The Scott family was destined to have no sons, but this girl was destined to have siblings.

Diana Scott naturally believed the fortune teller's words.

Stephanie Adams thus became the girl who seemed to be chosen by fate and was taken into the Scott family.

Originally, Diana Scott treated Stephanie Adams quite well because she didn't have children.

But four years later, with the birth of Ethan Scott, Stephanie Adams was like a concubine banished to the cold palace, becoming a marginal figure in the Scott family.

Fortunately, the only saving grace was that Diana Scott at least spared her an old-fashioned name meaning 'hope for a son'.

When Diana Scott heard Stephanie Adams say that, her heart skipped a beat, and her anger subsided considerably. However, the words she uttered were still sharp and unforgiving.

"Do you think our Scott family has fallen on hard times and is no longer worthy of your status as the eldest daughter-in-law of the Adams family?"

After hearing a noise by the door, Stephanie Adams heard familiar footsteps.

Diana Scott continued, "Your father's health has deteriorated due to excessive pressure, so you don't care whether your father lives or dies?"

If the hard approach doesn't work, should we try a softer one?

It must be said that this method is effective.

David Scott is quite good to Stephanie Adams.

Tory Adams had already walked up to her, and Stephanie Adams was unwilling to say anything more in front of him.

"I see."

After saying that, he hung up the phone.

Tory Adams took off his coat, pulled out a chair, and sat down opposite Stephanie Adams.

"Who called?"

Stephanie Adams said calmly, "My mother."

"What did you say?"

"They said I was unfilial for not going back to visit in so long."

Tory Adams's smile was enigmatic. "When did she become so attentive to you?"

Stephanie Adams: "Maybe she had a change of heart."

Tory Adams didn't continue the topic and looked towards the kitchen.

"What is Mrs. Higgins busy with?"

Stephanie Adams noticed that Tory Adams seemed to be talking more today.

"Make hand-pulled noodles."

"Hand-pulled noodles?"

Stephanie Adams raised an eyebrow slightly, "It's just dough made by hand."

Hearing that the words were both perfunctory and somewhat mocking, Tory Adams was surprisingly not angry.

"How could I not know that the dough was hand-rolled? Stephanie, do you think I'm that detached from worldly concerns?"

Stephanie Adams ignored him.

Mrs. Higgins brought over the noodles.

The aroma is enticing and the appearance is very appetizing.

Tory Adams: "Give me a bowl too."

Mrs. Higgins feigned surprise, "Young Master, don't you still have to deliver bird's nest porridge to Second Young Mistress? The porridge is ready, I'll pack it up for you and deliver it quickly, otherwise Second Young Mistress will go hungry."

Stephanie Adams: Well done!

Tory Adams: "There's no rush."

Mrs. Higgins: "Oh dear, what should we do? I only made this one bowl."

Tory Adams's gaze fell on Stephanie Adams's bowl of noodles.

Stephanie Adams protectively covered the bowl with her hand.

Tory Adams couldn't help but smile at how adorable she was when she was guarding her food.

"Give me some."

Stephanie Adams: "No."

Tory Adams: "So stingy?"

Stephanie Adams: "There are some things I don't like to share with others."

With just one sentence, Tory Adams was completely under her control.

His brows furrowed instantly.

"Is there a hidden meaning in your words?"

Stephanie Adams slowly chewed the noodles in her mouth until she swallowed them before speaking.

Do you know what day it was three days ago?

Tory Adams thought about it very seriously for a long time.

What day is it?

Stephanie Adams: "My birthday."

Tory Adams was slightly taken aback. "I've been too busy lately and forgot."

Stephanie Adams deliberately remained silent.

"I'll make up for the birthday present later."

Stephanie Adams: "More than gifts, what I care about is whether I'm in your heart."

Tory Adams's dark eyes flickered slightly, his tone straightforward.

What do you want for your birthday?

"Anything I want?"

"As long as it’s within reason."

“I want that Imperial Jade Guanyin,” Stephanie Adams said calmly. “After your brother married Vanessa Lewis, he gave her his piece. Why don’t you give me yours too?”

The guilt in Tory Adams's eyes was clearly visible.

Stephanie Adams noticed, but pretended not to see it, her voice softening slightly, "Are you reluctant to part with it?"

Tory Adams: "That jade pendant..."

“Alright.” Stephanie Adams smiled slig

htly. “I know that’s the Adams family’s heirloom jade. I think I’ll pass on it and choose something else.”

Tory Adams secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, then what do you want?"

Stephanie Adams: "Moonlight Terrace".